The company says it needs $1.5 million in pledges and $500,000 in cash by Sept. 10, the opening day of the company's season. As of Tuesday, Margo McCann, the group's interim managing director, said it had raised $145,326 in cash and about $800,000 in pledges.

"Quite frankly, it's not that much money for two cities to come up with," said Ben Stevenson, the theater's artistic director.

I keep waiting for someone to mention that, his success in Houston notwithstanding, this is not a new situation for Stevenson; his two previous companies -- National Ballet and Harkness -- also went belly-up.

_________________"A man's speech must exceed his vocabulary, or what's a metaphor?"

The anomaly is Ben’s success leading Houston ballet for 27 years from a ho-hum regional dance troupe to a first rung nationally recognized Ballet Company. Not sure what the endowment was in 2003 but I think I recall 50mil. Good dancers – great rep. Give some credit to Ben. It’s like saying that Donald Trump made a lucky bet once.

I’d love to discuss some of the current AD’s failures though. Plenty to choose from.

The anomaly is Ben’s success leading Houston ballet for 27 years from a ho-hum regional dance troupe

Actually, in the year or so before Stevenson was hired, Houston Ballet was doing some very exciting work. The board decided that they wanted to go in a less innovative, more traditional direction. They did a very good job of raising money and of keeping Ben from spending more than they raised.

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